The world’s largest solar power plant, the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility, has been built in the desert near the California-Nevada border. The plant covers 5.5 square miles and uses 173,500 heliostats (mirrors) to focus sunlight towards three 450-foot (137 m) tall boilers that sit atop 459-foot (140 m) towers. The boilers use the heat from the concentrated sunlight to make steam, which drives the turbines that generate enough electricity to power 140,000 homes. The plant came online on February 14, 2014. The plant will be able to produce 392 megawatts, enough to power 140,000 homes. According to NRG Energy, the power plant’s parent company, the Ivanpah solar plant will be able to produce enough solar electricity to power 140,000 homes. The actual construction took nine months, but the permitting was a long and arduous process, taking seven years in total. Overall, the plant cost $2.2 billion.

Concentrated Solar Energy production or CSP(Concentrated Solar Energy) is an alternate form of solar energy and it is one of the fastest growing solar power systems. It uses sunlight and mirrors to generate heat and power. There are many plants in the US that use this technique and California has the most. For example, the Ivanpah concentrated solar power plant in California is made up of 3 different plants. The plant uses the sun to boil water to produce steam, which in turn is used to generate electricity. The plant covers 5 square miles and is in operation since February 2014. It has a generating capacity of 377 MW. The plant is on an area that used to be a desert and that area is now extremely productive and green. The prices of the electricity produced by solar are falling and it is becoming more affordable as energy sources.

What Is The Concentrated Solar Energy Process Handled In The USA?

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is one of the best renewable energy sources, coming closest to meeting the globe’s energy needs in non-fossil form. CSP systems have adopted thermal storage technologies, which enable electricity to be generated at night, when demand is at its lowest. It works by converting solar energy into thermal energy, with which is then used to power a conventional steam turbine generator. This technology provides grid stability and is used in isolated locations or areas with large grids, as it is often called the synchrogenous technology. Concentrated solar power plants use the most abundant renewable energy resource available. It is also the most efficient, produces the most pollution-free energy and provides the most stored energy. Some countries, like the USA, have tax benefits for CSP plants as a result of solar production allowing them to sell power to the grid. There are, however, many other technologies that can be combined with this one to optimize its efficiency.

The US currently has 28 Concentrated Solar Thermal Power projects as of 2015, with 7,450 MW installed capacity, according to the DOE. The largest of the US solar thermal plants, with 559 MW, is the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in the Mojave Desert, California. The largest solar power tower project in the US with 233 MW is the Genesis Solar Energy Project in Riverside County, California.

Advantages:

More than one million solar systems have been installed in the United States over the past 35 years. – The nation’s solar capacity has increased by more than 200,000 megawatts since 2010. – Solar energy is reliable and can be produced in all 50 states. – Solar energy does not contribute to global warming or climate change. – Most solar energy installations are on rooftops or in parking lots, and help reduce water use. – Solar installations do not require a large amount of land for development. – Solar energy systems do not pollute the air and can be safely installed near homes and businesses. – Solar energy systems are safe for the public and first responders to maintain and inspect. – Solar energy systems are reliable and can be counted on in the event of emergencies. – Solar energy systems can be used to heat water and air in addition to generating electricity. – Solar installations save on average 30-50% on electricity costs while lowering a home or business’s carbon footprint.